The Congress lastly appears to have discovered a counter to the dynasty jibe the Bharatiya Janata Get together continuously makes in opposition to it. It additionally seems decided to carry the nationwide focus again to actual considerations comparable to unemployment, farmers’ issues and the assault on particular person freedom. At Information18’s ‘Baithak‘ programme on Tuesday, senior Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot articulated the social gathering’s place on a number of issues emphatically.

On the dynasty query, Scindia sought to reveal the BJP’s twin requirements, saying the social gathering was silent on dynasts in its personal ranks, which included his personal family. Each leaders requested the ruling BJP to debate its personal achievements whereas in energy moderately than making an attempt to deflect the eye to the previous.

Equally, Pilot identified the unfairness of the kids of individuals in different professions having the ability to comply with their household’s path with out query, however politicians having to clarify themselves each step of the way in which.

“Is it a disqualification that we (Jyotiraditya and Sachin) are the sons of illustrious Congress leaders Madhavrao Scindia and Rajesh Pilot?” the Rajasthan Congress president stated. “If the sons of medical doctors, attorneys, media individuals and industrialists can comply with their fathers’ footsteps, why cannot we do the identical? We had been elected as MPs by the general public not solely as a result of we’re our fathers’ sons however as a result of we labored onerous and gained the boldness of the citizens.”

Each Congress leaders emphasised that politicians shouldn’t be assessed on the idea of lineage however on efficiency, monitor document and the work they do.

On forming coalitions forward of the 2019 elections

The Congress leaders asserted {that a} united rainbow coalition will likely be shaped forward of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, together with its alliance companions, will combat by taking on social and financial points that at present concern the nation.

Whereas Congress president Rahul Gandhi would be the social gathering’s face for the 2019 polls, the chief of the ‘gathbandhan‘ will likely be determined in any case alliance companions attain a consensus. “Your complete Opposition will likely be united, will win the elections and are available to energy,” Pilot emphasised.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and ballot points

Scindia stated that the Congress will contest the elections by mentioning problems with inner safety, defence, agriculture, unemployment, ladies’s security, and many others.

“Why have ‘New India’ and ‘achche din‘, as promised by Modiji, did not materialise even after 4 years?” he stated. “As a substitute of giving the nation a New India, the BJP has solely been criticising the Congress by saying nothing had been finished previously 70 years. It is like driving a automotive with eyes solely on the rear-view mirror. It’ll result in an accident. Does the BJP have solutions to points such because the rise in mob lynchings, ladies’s security and divisive politics?”

Pilot accused the BJP of following “exclusion politics”, not like the Congress, “which believes in inclusiveness”. “The general public is effectively conscious of the allegations levelled by the BJP-RSS mix in opposition to the Congress,” he asserted. “Individuals will categorical their mandate within the Meeting elections to be held by the top of the yr and within the 2019 common elections.”

The 2 Congress leaders stated that not like the BJP, their social gathering doesn’t intention for a “BJP-mukt” (BJP-free) India. They claimed that regardless of Modi’s affect, voters will reject the saffron social gathering each on the Centre and in states on the idea of its poor efficiency.

“A robust Opposition is an indication of a wholesome democracy. Once we come to energy in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, we’ll need the BJP to be our Opposition within the Meeting. Now we have ideological variations with our political opponent, however we do not see them as our enemy,” Scindia stated.

On Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and bypolls

Each Congress leaders are assured that their social gathering will win the Meeting elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan slated for later this yr. “Whether or not it is Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan or Mizoram, as a substitute of projecting any chief because the face of the social gathering for the elections, our focus is on the folks of those states,” they stated.

Scindia was candid in admitting that it was not Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s efficiency however the failure of the Congress to place up a united Opposition that ensured a BJP authorities in Madhya Pradesh for 15 years. “Previously two years, eight to 10 high Congress leaders within the state joined fingers and chalked out a marketing campaign technique. We’ll combat united,” he stated.

Pilot identified that the BJP had lost nearly all the bypolls it had contested within the states the place it’s in energy. “It has by no means occurred earlier than {that a} social gathering in majority in a state has misplaced the bypolls. In Rajasthan alone, of 22 the by-elections held, the Congress gained 20. The folks’s verdict will likely be mirrored within the forthcoming elections,” he added.

When requested whether or not Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could be a part of the 2019 elections, the Congress leaders stated, “It is her private choice whether or not she joins. Up to now, she has restricted herself to the Raebareli constituency. However each Rahul and Priyanka have been representing the Congress and dealing with dedication for the social gathering,” they stated.